Elaboration and Characterization of Natural Diatomite in Aktyubinsk/ Kazakhstan

This study investigated the structure, mineralogical specifics and chemical composition, of a natural and modified diatomite ore, which obtained from the Aktyubinsk /Kazakhstan deposits by using SEM, XRF, XRD, FTIR, TGA and SDTA. Three modified forms of diatomite’s were prepared by calcinations at 900C and/or calcinations and acidification by 0.5 N HCl (D, D-HCl, D-900 and D-900-HCl). The iron(Fe2O3 ) and silica (SiO2) contents in natural raw diatomite were about 3.9 % and SiO2 80.23 % respectively. Whereas, the modified diatomite which treated with 0.5 N HCl followed calcination at 900 C revealed 0.92% and 84.75% of Fe2O3 and SiO2 respectively. This proved that the elimination of the impurities which may be found as clay minerals, especially mica and kaolinite. The SEM micrographs investigation of acid activation and/or acid activation followed by calcinations showed the original geometry of the pores to be preserved, but there is collapse in the skeleton structure.